Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-17
THE STATES PUBLIC
WORKS.
THEIR VITAL IMPORTANCE To
THE PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE.
The Urgent Necessity for Radical
Change in the General Manage
ment ofthe Canals and for
Business Methods.

TDlIOh MIAMI LEADERs-Ine Il ueS-
ton of the Encouragement and preserva-.
ton of the Public Works of Ohio is
grave one and deserves the thoughtful
consideration ofall our people.
The great difficulty In interesting the
best judgment of the whole people of
the State in this important subject is
want of knowledge and investigation.
The history of the Public Works dates
far back, and few of our citizens recol-
lect the struggle and anxiety and
necessity of the inception of the sys-
tenn. M
In 1923 when Ohio was wilderness,
having only Is Inhabitants to the square
mile of territory, it was clearly develop
ed that something must be done to set
tie up our lands, build towns and cities,
and increase our population.
The statesmen of that day fully ap-
preciated the necessity and as the best
and only solution of the question, in
augurated and adopted system of in
ternal improvements, which was to de-
velop the resources of the State by the
construction of navigable canals cross
ing the State in a northerly and south
erly direction, and affording safe trans
portatiOn for all southern and western
products by the great lakes to the At
lantic seaboard.
This was great undertaking and re-
quired an amount ofenergy and thought
that to us seems surprising-by honest
effort, care and eXertion, the project
prove successful and Ohio become the
third State in the Union and still re-
tains her position.
The territory nearest to these works
was more directly benefited than that
which was more remote but every por-
ton of the State felt the healthful in
fiuence of the construction of these
works, and prosperity first inaugurated
along the canals, spread wider and wi
der till every portion of the State par
ticipated in the advantages of their con-
structiOn.
At the time of the inception and con-
struction of the Public Works, capital
was so scarce that nothing seemed
available to procure the necessary mon
eys to be used in their construction but
to pledge the public credit for its repay
ment and in this way the sovereignty
of the State because the owner and
manager of the Public Works system
and for many years under the fostering
care of friendly legislation and the ac-
tive personal supervision of the fathers
and friends of the system, eminent sue
cess crowned the operations of the ca
nails and large repayments were de-
posted in the treasury to their credit,
where.were used in liquidation Of the in
debtedness incurred by the State on ac-
count of their construction. So that,
the Public Works of Ohio to-day taking
into account amounts received from the
sale of lands donated by general gov
eminent, donations from private indi-
viduals and revenues paid into the
State treasury from earnings of the
canals themselves, they have fully paid
themselves without creditipg them for
the incidental benefits accruing to the
treasury from increased taxation grow
ing out of their construction.
Notwithstanding all this there is q
cIamOr for their abandonment coming
from class who have no knowledge of
the subject but simply because the
works are not at all times self-sustain-
ing. They assume that their day Of
usefulness is past and like an old horse
they must be turned out to die, forget
ting at the same time that the interest
Su W1lO uCSlIG W IuClCdSC tlIIS
clamor are actuated by personal mo-
tives and only seek such abandonment
that they may profit by plucking the
bones of the Public Works. To any per-
son who has studied the subject this
seems exceeding strange.
| The State of New York situated al
most as we are, has enlarged her canal
three times and thereby saved New
city, our greatest commercial seaport
from destruction, and now having CIV
en- the Erie its greatest efficiency in size
and facilities, they have taken off all
tolls and made it free water way, in
viting trade from all portions of the
Union-how different from the man
agement in Ohio.
1t is claimed that the canals (the
child and ward of the State of Ohio)
cannot be sustained because they are a
continual charge upon the State treas
ury. Why is this so? TITS plain
enough; bad management is at the bot
| tom of the trouble. Canal manage
ment is science and requires, honesty
and capacity for its development.
The system of managing the Public
| Works under State detail is lamenta-
BILE failaure and will always continue
to be so as long as appointments are
made on political grounds instead of
business qualifications. One man who
understands his business, is better than
six men whose only recommendation is
that they are strong partizans and good
ward politicians, but without the re-
qusite knowledge of their duties. Then
what shall we do?
Take the management out ofpolitics,
put it into competent hands, and make
the management responsible for the
faithful discharge of duty.
A responsible company of private bust
ness men who are friends fthe canals
and desire to make money for them
selves, could lease and take charge OF
and keep the works in good repair, and
at the same time would have so large q
stake in their prosperity as to secure
both the interests of the State and the
lessees, and remove the management
from politics entirely.
|. If such lease were made and com
petent men placed in charge, many
evils would be remedied which prevent
prosperity from State management.
The law governing the Board of Pub
, lie Works and other canal officers is too
rigid and has too little elacticity anc
therefore cramps the action of thu
management to such an extent as t.